Budget discussions in North Versailles are creating a controversy among the townships 7 commissioners. The commissioners are split between two budgets; one would raise taxes 3 mills, while the other would raise taxes by only 1.5 mills but would eliminate up to 11 police positions leaving only 2 officers on patrol during any given moment.
The budget likely to be approved would eliminate the police positions, 7 part time and up to 4 full time. That budget was approved by a 4-3 vote on New Year's Eve, but could be overturned on Jan. 15th if one commissioner changes their vote.
The main opponent of the budget, Commissioner Dennis Dull, doesn't believe he will be able to win this budget battle because he claims one of the votes for the budget was won after a commissioners brother was offered a job that was previously eliminated from the township.
The job of road superintendent was eliminated and replaced by a road foremen in a previous budget. In the new budget that position would be brought back at a cost of $48,000 a year.
North Versailles' budget is facing a deficit this year close to $700,000. Each budget proposes a way to close the budget gap and also pay nearly $800,000 in loan payments due by the township.
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